Orthodontic brackets



y 1962 M. WALLSHEIN 3, 3,

ORTHODONTIC BRACKETS Filed June 2, 1959 64"; FIG.I5

3M FIG.!4 MENTOR M ELVIN wALLSHEiN,

ATTORN E Y.

Patented July 10, 1962' 3,043,006 ORTHODGNTIC BRACKETS Melvin Wallshein, 3645 Bay Parkway, Brooklyn, N.Y. Filed June 2, 1259, Ser. No. 817,536 4 Claims. (Cl. 32-14) The present invention relates to improvements in orthodontic brackets for supporting arch wires.

An object'of this invention is to provide novel and improved constructions for orthodontic brackets of the type mentioned, on which the arch wire is easily mounted by lateral movement and then held in place against detachment from the bracket, affording the arch wire freedom for lengthwise movement.

Another object thereof is to provide novel and improved orthodontic brackets of the character set forth, having a blade spring closure element which is of sufiicient length to function properly and yet it is within the confines of the bracket which must be minute in size.

A further object thereof is to provide a novel and improved orthodontic bracket of the kind described, in which such closure element acts to return the arch wire in its proper position on the bracket, should the arch wire become dislodged therefrom.

Another object thereof is to provide a 'novel and improved orthodontic bracket of the nature stated, afiording a construction which hold the arch wire on the bracket though said wire has become dislodged from its proper position thereon.

A further object thereof is to provide a novel and improved orthodontic bracket of the sort mentioned, atfording means to hold the arch wire in torqued condition.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved orthodontic bracket having the attributes set forth, which is simple in construction, easy to use, reasonable in cost and efiicient in carrying out the purposes for which it is designed.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as this disclosure proceeds.

For one practice of this invention, each bracket is on a band fitted tightly on and around a tooth and comprises a substantially horizontally positioned channel element. As a preferred form of closure means to hold an arch wire positioned through such channel, I provide a blade spring of substantially one turn about the channel body; such blade crossing the channel. One end of the blade trance thereinto of the arch wire. Such movement of the arch wire, of course causes the blade spring to become stressed. Upon freeing the manual hold of the spring end, it will return to its position across the channel and hug the bracket. The side wall of the channel which is nearest the free end of the blade spring, may be lower than the opposite side wall. This aids in the proper return of the arch wire if said wire should for any reason become dislodged from its proper place in the channel. Also, the bracket may be provided with a tooth to act as a stop for limiting the extent of such dislodgement so that the spring will yet act to hold the arch wire against the bracket and thus avoid a total disengagement of the arch wire from the bracket. Further, the bracket may be provided with one or more hooks to hold an initially horizontal bend in the arch wire, in vertical position, thereby maintaining the arch wire in torqued condition.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this ;pecification, similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side view of a patients upper 'eeth about which is an orthodontic arch wire shown nounted on brackets in accordance with the teachings of this invention; each bracket being carried on a conventional band which tightly encircles a tooth.

FIG. 2. is an enlarged perspective view of one form of bracket taught herein, as included in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the bracket minus the blade spring which acts as the bracket closure means.

FIG. 4 isan enlarged section taken at line 44 in FIG. 1. Here, the blade spring is in its normal rest position, closing the channel which is part of the bracket structure.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, showing the blade spring moved to make access to the channel for the insertion of an arch wire therein, which Wire is also shown.

FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 4, showing the arch wire dislodged, but retained against the bracket by said blade spring. A slight shift of the arch wire downward, would cause the blade spring to automatically shift such wire back into proper position into the brackets channel.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are views like FIGS. 4 and 5 respectively, but instead of being made of round stock, the bracket body is made of square stock and provided with a clearance for spring movement.

FIG. 9 is a view like FIG. 4, wherein the bracket body is provided with a tooth along the channel to act as a stop for the arch wire if the latter should become dislodged from the channel.

FIG. 10 shows an arch wire stopped by said-tooth.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged perspective view of a modified form of bracket body; the closure spring being omitted in this view, to attain clarity of illustration.

FIG. 12 is a front viewof the bracket body shown in FIG. 11, drawn to a slightly reduced scale in relation thereto, showing an arch wire therein; said arch wire having a substantially horizontally extending bend.

FIG. 13 is like FIG. 12, showing said bend in the arch wire turned to vertical position to torque the arch wire; such bend being held in vertical position by a hook or lug extending from the bracket body.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a slightly modified form of bracket body of the type shown in FIG. 11.

FIG. 15 is a section taken at line 1515 in FIG. 11. Here, the blade spring is included.

In the drawing, the numeral 15 designates generally a bracket which may be carried on a tubular band 16. This band is adapted to be tightly fitted on a tooth 17 whereby the bracket is mounted to receive into its lengthwise channel 18, the arc wire 19. The bracket body- 20 also has an annular channel 21, which holds substantially a turn of blade spring stock 22. One end of said blade spring is suitably secured to the assembly, and as here shown, such spring end is welded at 14 to the bracket body. The free end of said blade spring 22 may have a lip 22", which when moved with a tool 23 as in FIG. 5, will give access to the channel 18 for the insertion of the arch wire 19 thereinto by a lateral movement of said wire. When the blade spring 22 is let go, it will spring back across the channel 18'and hug the bracket body as in FIG. 4, and thus hold the arch wire 19 associated with the bracket body. The ends of the bracket body may be in the form of tabs or lugs 24, which are integral with, soldered, welded or otherwise suitably secured to the band 16, or any other means which may be employed to attach the bracket to the tooth. It is advisable to have a little space between the band 16 and the blade spring 22, as is shown in exaggerated fashion at 25 in FIGS. 7 and 8, which illustrate a bracket structure whose body member 20 is made of square stock. Although blade springs of less than one turn, shorter than those shown at 22 and 22, may be used, the minute dimension of the bracket body in either instance shown in FIGS. 2 and'7, makes the longest spring most effective for the Work it from the .channel21 as. in FIG. 6, will keep it against the br'acket body,

.tion, or in being set into will first come'down onto the wall 26 and hence will be v guided into the channel by automatic action of the spring *the direction along said spring shown in FIG. 13.

. a v is called upon to do. mension of the .bracket bodies 20 or 20 is about one-eighth of an inch. Hence the lengthof blade spring 22 would be a little over 78 of an inch, and that of the blade spring 22 would be about one-half inch. .f-In all brackets herein taught, the blade'spring should be ofa Strength to resist a usual attempt of the arch wire 19 to dislodge;

Should however the arch wire 19 become dislodged the blade spring 22 and if the dislodgement is slight, said springs action will be to automatically shift the arch Wire 19 back into place. have the lower horizontal wall 26 of the channel 21, of

. In practice, the cross-sectional di- I It is advisable to greater height than its opposite wall (such height being measured from the plane-of the channel wall 27), o that the arch wire in being brought back to proper rest posithe bracket in the first instance,

22. If desired, the bracket body may be provided with a lengthwise tooth 28, to act as a stop for the arch wire, asis shown in the FIGS..9 and 10. The wall 26 as above-described, may be identified as thatchannel wall which is farthest from the entrance region between said bracket and the free end portion of the spring 22, in from said entrance towards the fixed end of the' spring. The position of the stop tooth 28 may be described as being 21 and the region of entrance between thefree end region of the spring 22 and the bracket, in a direction along said spring from'the spring.

If a bend is made in the arch wire, to extend substantially horizontal or downwardly therefrom as shown in, FIG. 12, and then such bend 29 be swung upward whereupon the arch wire 19 is torqued, then the wire may be maintained in torqued condition by having the bracket body as at 31, which is provided with outward lugs or hook 30 to engage the bend 29 in its shiftedposition, as

As a modified form of such bendengaging bracket body, I have shown one in FIG. 14 where'it is designated as 31', which is provided with two slots 30, which serve as hooks to hold the bend 29 when the wire is torqued. The bracket bodies 31, 31 may .be provided with a blade spring, or such spring may be omitted, if only the bend-engaging feature is to be attained.

between the channel d tive and not restrictive and that the patent shall cover all patentable novelty herein set forth; referencebeing had to the following claims rather'than to the specific description herein to indicate the scope of this invention.

I claim: a I

1..In an article for supporting an orthodontic arch wire, a first member adapted to bemounted on a tooth, a bracket member positioned on said first member, comprising a substantially horizontal channel to receive said arch wire and an openable door nonmally closing said channel,- comprising a blade spring fixed at one end to one of said members and formed in substantially one turn about said bracket member; .the' free end portion of said blade spring being across said channel intermediate the ends of said channel and said blade spring continuing around the underside of the bracket member to said fixed end thereof, whereby on accidental shift of the arch wire wholly out of the channel, a substantial portion of said :turn will remain about the bracket memher and aid arch wire will remain within said turn; the free end of said blade spring being-accessible when the articleis in use.

2. An article-as defined inclaim 1, wherein the oppositewalls of the channel are substantially horizontal, one above the other; that channel wall which is farthest from the entrance region between said bracket and the free end portion of the spring, measured in the direction along the spring from said entrance towards the fixed end of free end towards the fixed end of said Also note, that if theinid-section of any of the brackets are reduced to have appreciable shoulders as 32, the

spring 33 will enter between such shoulders to engage capacity of the channel at 34.

vThis invention is capable of numerous forms and various? applications without departing from the essential features herein disclosed. It is therefore intended and desired that the embodiments shown herein'be deemed illustraarch wires of rather smallercross-section than the full the spring, extending further away from the first member than the other channel wall.

3. An article as defined in claim 1, wherein the bracket memberis provided with astop element extending laterally therefrom intermediate its ends and spaced a predetermined distance from the longitudinal entrance into the channel; said stop element being between said channel and the region of the entrance between the free end region of said spring and the bracket, measured in a direction along the spring from said entrance towards the fixed end of the spring. g

4. An article as defined in claim 1, wherein the bracket member is provided with-alug in extension thereof adjacent an end of the channel; the face of said lug nearest the said first member", having a channel thereinalong an upright line, whereby said lug is ofhookdorm.

References Cited in the file of this patent v UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,764,067

Craigo June 17, 1930 1,991,047 Boyd Feb. 12, 1935 2,230,315 7 Winslow Feb. 4, 1941 2,267,073 'Boyd Dec. 23, 1941 2,671,964 Russell et al. Mar. 16, 1954 2,716,283 Atkinson Aug. 30, 1955 2,767,469 Gladstone Oct. 23, 1956 2,908,974

Stifter Oct. 20, 1959 

